Featured Posts
  • Romney Calls Santorum the ‘D’ Word

    Romney Calls Santorum the 'D' Word

    Mitt Romney believes that his best line of attack is making the claim that he has not spent a moment as a D.C. politician while his two main opponents, Newt ...

    Read More

  • Holy Rick Santorum, Batman!

    Holy Rick Santorum, Batman!

    No two ways about it, Rick Santorum had a good night. Not only did he sweep Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri but he also got off the best line of the ...

    Read More

  • “We the Rich…”

    We the Rich...

    Few would argue the fact that Citizens United has been a major player in the Republican primary...and many if not most would concede that none of it has been healthy ...

    Read More

  • A Romney Victory Is Ensured With Trump’s Endorsement ()

    A Romney Victory Is Ensured With Trump's Endorsement ()

    As if you needed another reason to not vote Romney. Celebrity business magnate Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for president Thursday, telling reporters he will not mount an independent campaign if ...

    Read More

  • Why I Love Newt Gingrich

    Why I Love Newt Gingrich

    In a perfect world, the Republican contest to find a nominee to face Barack Obama would go on forever...or at least until August. You cannot attach a number to the ...

    Read More

  • Republican Cannibalism

    Republican Cannibalism

    I suspect there are a ton of conservatives secretly agreeing with Begala and while it's too early in the game for Dems to get cocky, it's difficult to not smile ...

    Read More

  • Romney Hood

    Romney Hood

    One of our readers sent me an email with an idea for an illustration - Mitt Romney as Romney Hood. I thought it was brilliant and came up with the ...

    Read More

  • Why Do People Take an Instant Dislike To Newt Gingrich?

    Why Do People Take an Instant Dislike To Newt Gingrich?

    Quotes don't get much better than this one by Bob Dole. "Why do people take such an instant dislike to me?" asked a perplexed Gingrich, to whom Dole bluntly ...

    Read More

  • Gingrich Takes A Thrashing

    Gingrich Takes A Thrashing

    After the beating Gingrich took last night, it's hard to imagine under what scenario he can make a comeback.  Florida is going to Romney and for Gingrich to regain the ...

    Read More

  • SOTU

    SOTU

    There's a lot out there on the President's SOTU, so I'll keep my thoughts short and sweet. The speech did what it had to do which was target liberals and independents ...

    Read More

  • Just Another GOP Debate

    Just Another GOP Debate

    The highlights from last night's debate. - Newt Gingrich can't wait to become president so he can revisit the early 60s and overthrow Castro in Cuba. War, baby, war. - Santorum, who ...

    Read More

  • No More Mister Nice Guy for Mitt Romney

    No More Mister Nice Guy for Mitt Romney

    It appears that the South Carolina verdict is forcing Romney to start taking Gingrich seriously. “We’re not choosing a talk show host, we’re choosing a leader,” Romney said, saying that their ...

    Read More

  • Mike Huckabee Solidifies His Birther Creds

    Mike Huckabee Solidifies His Birther Creds

    Mike Huckabee offers advice to Mitt Romney concerning his unreleased tax returns. Let him [Romney] make this challenge: "I'll release my tax returns when Barack Obama releases his college transcripts and ...

    Read More

  • Late Night Political Humor

    Late Night Political Humor

    Via Political Humor... "Mitt Romney is coming under fire because even though he is a multimillionaire, he only paid 15 percent in taxes. That's not a tax, that's barely a tip." ...

    Read More

  • The Last Word On Jon Huntsman

    The Last Word On Jon Huntsman

    Good line. My guess is that after Romney fails to beat Obama in the general, Huntsman will be back in 2016.  The most electable guy in the field and he could ...

    Read More

  • Does Romney Urinate Straight Down His Leg?

    Does Romney Urinate Straight Down His Leg?

    I found this pretty funny...and accurate. It comes from a reader over at Balloon Juice. So, let’s review. The contenders for the GOP nomination are A vulture capitalist who believes that any ...

    Read More

  • The Constitution – Libertarian’s False Idol

    The Constitution - Libertarian's False Idol

    Lively little debate going on at one of last week's posts with Libertarianism put under the microscope. ocLiberal: I know I am in sketchy territory here, (start the indignant shouting now) but ...

    Read More

  • Gingrich’s Delusional Politics

    Gingrich's Delusional Politics

    In the contest to determine the winner of the Far-Right Politics gold medal, rack up a few more points for Newt Gingrich. “I think an intelligent conservative wants the right federal ...

    Read More

  • Late Night Political Humor

    Late Night Political Humor

    Via Political Humor... "Congratulations to Mitt Romney. He won the New Hampshire primary last night. See, this is proof that even the multimillionaire son of a multimillionaire can beat the odds ...

    Read More

  • What Do North Korea and Indiana Have In Common?

    What Do North Korea and Indiana Have In Common?

    Story 1: North Korea punishing those who 'didn't display enough sadness over Kim Jong Il's death' North Korean authorities are reportedly punishing citizens who did not display enough sadness over the death ...

    Read More

A New Approach For Iran

Opening up to Iran

Opening up to Iran

You can add another ‘X’ on the policies of former president George W. Bush.   Bush’s isolation policy toward Iran is being scrapped as the new administration embarks on putting into place another of President Obama’s campaign promises.  In a followup to Obama’s video talk to the Iranian people last month on the occasion of Iran’s new year festival, the president has embarked on a new foreign policy in regards to Iran.

From the New York Times:

“The Obama administration said Wednesday that the United States for the first time would participate regularly with other global powers in negotiations with the Iranian government about its nuclear program.”

“The announcement marked a significant step toward the direct engagement with Iran that President Obama has promised. It came after the United States and five other powers — Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia — invited Iran to join a new round of talks on its nuclear program. Also on Wednesday, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made unusually conciliatory remarks about the United States.”

Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded with guarded caution but indications are that Iran welcomes the dialogue.  “The Iranian nation welcomes a hand extended to it should it really and truly be based on honesty, justice and respect,” Ahmadinejad said.

The State department noted, “If Iran accepts, we hope this will be the occasion to seriously engage Iran on how to break the logjam of recent years. If Iran accepts that invitation, we look forward to direct engagement.”

A step in the right direction.  Naturally, there is no guarantee that the first diplomatic relations between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution will bear fruit but it does mark a positive beginning.

Stay tuned.



Comments

  1. Publius says:

    Meeting with European powers on this is good, which is what the US has always done. Expecting talks with Iran to yield any positive change to their nuclear program is the height of naivete.

    Perhaps if the President bows low enough when he meets Ahmadinejad then that nutty 12th-Imam-believing leader will realize that we are all just the same and that we only misunderstand each other… blah blah blah blah.

    Not unlike a teenager, the new President apparently has to learn everything for himself. These are tough times for someone to be learning on the job… Biden was right to warn us about Obama’s unpreparedness.

  2. mario says:

    C’mon. I could understand how as a conservative (or libertarian) you are opposed to Obama on certain policy issues. That’s fine. But how could you be against the U.S. having a dialogue with countries like Iran?

    At worst, nothing comes out of the talks. At best, we avoid possible war and hopefully Iran gives up its nuclear ambitions. Also, keep in mind that other countries are already in negotiations with Iran so why would you not want a U.S. voice at the table?

    I think your Obama is a Liberal outlook is blinding you here.

  3. obamaman says:

    Let’s see……President Obama sends the Iranian People a feel good video. President Obama relents and agrees to meet and talk face to face with these nut cases with no pre-conditions.

    Iran (the aforementioned nut cases) responds by charging an American Journalist they are essentially holding hostage with espionage.

    Now THAT’S cooperation we can believe in.

  4. obamaman says:

    “At worst, nothing comes out of the talks.”

    Is that really the “worst” that can come of it? How about holding the US and World at arms length with useless dialog and negotiation until they actually HAVE a nuclear weapon?

    It has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative. It has to do with naively trusting a rogue nation and government without any evidence that nation or government is worthy of trust.

  5. mario says:

    Oh please. You can lose the ‘meeting with no pre-conditions’ conservative silliness. I know it sounds good to say it but it has no basis in reality.

    Obama is not meeting with Ahmadinejad at this time. The U.S. is joining other countries in diplomatic talks with Iran. So you can leave the no pre-conditions’ stuff to the liars at Fixed News.

  6. mario says:

    So your solution is what? Should the U.S. invade Iran as they did with Iraq? Let’s here what your answer is to the Iran threat.

  7. obamaman says:

    Mario, Mario, Mario…….. That’s MY opinion. It might surprise you to find you are not the only human being on the planet with the capacity for independent thought.

    Yes. There should be some indication from the Iranian Government that we aren’t meeting with them just to affirm that we are evil, Israel has no right to exist, and they will do whatever they choose while making the US and our allies appear impotent in the face of Iranian might.

    You have a nasty disposition. Or do you really feel no one can think for themselves unless they reach the same conclusions YOU do?

    BTW….I asked you a question. You didn’t answer….again. And simply responded by ridiculing my thoughts, my opinions and the way I arrive at them.

    Good job!

  8. mario says:

    Yes, you have opinions and I have opinions as do many others. What’s your point? I think you’re wrong as you think I am. It’s called debate.

    You made a baseless statement about no pre-conditions. I called you on it and you can’t defend it ’cause it’s a lie. If you wish to call that ridicule, go ahead.

    As for answering your question, I did. I believe that diplomacy should always be the first step in any dispute. If that fails, then you move on to Plan B. You seem to believe differently. Ok.

  9. obamaman says:

    Come on. Take off the blinders.

    I said: (see above)

    “Yes. There should be some indication from the Iranian Government that we aren’t meeting with them just to affirm that we are evil, Israel has no right to exist, and they will do whatever they choose while making the US and our allies appear impotent in the face of Iranian might.”

    I find those “pre-conditions” simple and basic enough that if we can’t get them, tell the Iranians (as you so eloquently stated in a previous comment) to go “f**k themselves!”

    And no. You did not answer my question. Your response was: (see above) (again)

    “So your solution is what? Should the U.S. invade Iran as they did with Iraq? Let’s here [sic] what your answer is to the Iran threat.”

    Anyway, I have no control over the situation. Those are just my thoughts. Where you lose credibility with me is when you subscribe any opposing thought to indoctrination of some form, usually your “Fixed News” crutch. It’s as if you think if someone disagrees with you, they have to have been indoctrinated by some subversive force and could not have possibly reached a conclusion different than yours based on a perusal of the information available. It’s just about respect for differing viewpoints. That’s all.

    Anyway, it ain’t about you and it ain’t about me. So get over yourself and I’ll try to do the same.

  10. mario says:

    Ok, I can agree with some of what you just wrote. Now let’s tackle this Iran controversy from a more important angle. How did you like my illustration?

    :)

  11. Debbie says:

    In my opinion America and the world should be treated as your own home and the other people in your life.

    If you feel threatened by something another person did or did not do, whether you agree or disagree, you need to engage in dialogue.

    Why do you think that the courts in this country have implemented in their dispute resolution a mediator that handles cases prior to going full blast ahead with a trial? Because dialogue is necessary in an attempt to resolve rather than ignore.

    Why are people so afraid of dialogue? Why are people so afraid of dealing with others that differ in their way of thinking? Why are people so afraid of what they do not understand?

    Why don’t they decide to learn from their supposed “enemies” and engage in dialogue? Fear of the unknown can cripple you! Learn, study, analyze and meet with them, don’t put them in a closet and ignore. It will hunt America if we do!

  12. Debbie says:

    Mario, your illustration is brilliant! You do very good work! Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Barack, hope you follow your intuition, wisdom, and common sense to open up to Iraq!

  13. obamaman says:

    Now that’s more like it. Let’s re-calibrate the trajectory of that rocket aimed at Kim’s derrière!! :-)

  14. mario says:

    Well said, Debbie.

    Now that neocons aren’t running the show, we’re back to a commonsense approach to foreign policy. Finally.

  15. obamaman says:

    I’m not sure that where Iran is concerned, there is much of an “unknown” factor. At least, not as they have stated. And if you are going to “engage” them in dialog, it would be nice to have some degree of expectation that BOTH sides are genuinely engaged.

    Don’t you think we should ask, if not require they back off some of the fiery rhetoric before we agree to engage them in diplomatic effort? If not, do you think that makes the U.S. look as if they are being “forced” to the table because they have no alternative? And if so, do you think it is wise to appear weak in the face of these whack jobs??

    As “sweet” a thought as that may be, we ain’t talking about your home and we ain’t talking about your neighbors. We are talking about a group of people that rejoice in the slaughter of innocent people and would be more than glad to either set off a nuclear weapon, or see one set off in the middle of New York, Montreal or Debbie’s Hometown!

  16. mario says:

    I’m glad you enjoyed the piece. Ty.

  17. Debbie says:

    So you would just attack them? Would that be your solution… invade Iran and take over the country as we did with Iraq?

    No we cannot go around the world fighting each and every country’s battles with us. We have to talk and find OUR COMMON GROUNDS! There are common grounds in every dispute!

    I was attacked in my then hometown of Washington, D.C. on 911 and I roamed the streets as the alarms were blowing and pandemonium hit D.C. I was 5 blocks from the White House and 5 6 blocks from the capitol. I know what it is to be scared to death and not know if that last plane was hitting the capitol or the FBI building which was the building next to mine. Wanting to smoke a cig after you had quit 10 years prior. Wanting to hide somewhere… planning escape routes in case of an attack.

    Yes I know what you are talking about. I experienced it. I had to drive by the Pentagon and see it burning for days and weeks and I personally knew people that died at the Pentagon.

    Now all this experience was for a purpose… It made me realize how detached this country from the rest of the world and don’t you ever ask yourself the question, “why do they hate us so much?” Don’t you think it is time to deal with this America hatred and see how we can reach some kind of understanding?

    It has to be better than attacking Iran and doing what we hated them to do to us!

  18. obamaman says:

    First, my genuine sympathies for your horrific experience.

    Debbie, nowhere have I suggested attacking Iran or anyone else for that matter. (I’m sure Mr. Moderator will kick in with the “Straw Man” admonishment about now!) :-)

    But I DO think negotiations have to be done on some semblance of a level playing field. So far, I think Governments have been honestly, earnestly and fairly negotiating with Iran and I don’t feel Iran has been reciprocal.

    And no Debbie. I don’t feel it necessary to try to somehow affix “blame” to America for 19 nut cases flying 4 plane loads of innocent civilians into 3 buildings (well, at least 2) full of innocent civilians in an expression of their hatred.

    And even if you are willing to give them the Pentagon as a Military Target, using a plane full of innocent civilians would offset any claim to legitimacy.

  19. mario says:

    STRAW MAN!!!!!

    -Mr. Moderator

  20. Debbie says:

    Sure, you always have to have rules of the game, rules of engagement, rules of what is acceptable or not acceptable in a dialogue…

    Know you do not agree with me as to comparing same with personal issues, but I seem to differ.

    Say you are embarking in a personal dialogue with your future divorced wife as to who takes what from your house (division of community property). You would have to gently discuss the subject and attempt to have some civilized rules as to how to stay rational during the conversation.

    Same thing with our leaders! You cannot assume that they are criminals and terrorists while you hold these dialogues, it will come through during negotiations. There has to be a level of respect in this playing field. If you assume that of your future divorced wife, you will have to pay for a very expensive lawyer to help you out.

    I am not affixing blame to America as to the people that were involved in 911. I am blaming america for not taking a larger interest in the rest of the world’s hate towards us.

    Again, what would you tell your child if someone hates him. You would tell him to learn from your enemies, they tell you your faults.

    In the same fashion you would have to learn from your enemies as to their outlook on America. We americans are definitely not blame free as far as torture and using the CIA for missions that have nothing to do with diplomacy. We are not free from guilt. I personally know ex-CIA agents and know that it is amazing to what extent we went out of our way to launder drug money to carry out missions with the consent of the president at that time.

    So we are at times just as awful as the rest of these countries. Its something to think about…

  21. obamaman says:

    The first time you can show me where the U.S. purposefully, with full knowledge and mal-intent, MURDERED over 3000 civilians in one fell swoop, I will consider the U.S. to be as “…awful as the rest of these countries.”

    And I don’t feel the bombings in Japan would be a case of apples to apples.

  22. debbie says:

    Its not about who is worse or better here. That is not the point. The point is that we are also guilty of unspeakable crimes… we might not have done a 3000 swoop as you say but we have done many things that are not to be commended.

    Our CIA is a brutal force that has done atrocities as eliminating the leaders of a countrries. What could be worse than killing the leader? Our CIA will not stop at anything to get a mission accomplished and their own men are just as victims as the ones they victimize.

    We don’t take care of our own people and that is more than 3000. Being what was the biggest power in the world and to know that you have homeless people on the streets, more than 3000, 3.5 million to be precise, 1% of the population (and no way that these people can have dignity when their minds are ill), then we should have some shame. Right here we commit the crimes to our OWN! I have a mentally ill son roaming the streets of this the United States of America and he cannot find appropriate housing and with his illness the work he can do is very very limited. So I know that we do not take care of our own.

    I would like for you to see the floor at the Miami City Jail where they house the mentally ill prisoners. Then I would ask you if America does not commit crimes. Not even the judges, lawmakers, or newscasters could change these horrendous conditions. Why? Why do we not help our own? This is the way we treat other countries, We do not understand or can relate to their idyosincrasies. Without respect and with total lack of humbleness! Maybe our new leader Obama will see if he can bring this to our nation. We need hope and wisdom to help our people, which is the bottom line here — to keep people well and safe.

    Going back to the home issue that you so abhor… If you are getting a divorce you will neglect all your activities and people around you. The US is not well at home so we cannot be well with our relations with the rest of the world until we change.

  23. obamaman says:

    Debbie, I am truly sorry for your difficulties. With that said, you seem to be wanting to blame someone for something, and it seems you chose the rest of the U.S. to shoulder the blame.

    I really do not say that in a mean spirited way. It’s just my observation based on your comments.

    “Going back to the home issue that you so abhor…”

    I’m not sure exactly where THAT came from. I’m just saying it’s difficult to try to draw parallels between how you treat your neighbors and how we should approach Radical Islamic Fundamentalist Jihadi.